Guinea pigs rescued from hoarder up for adoption

Gallery

PHOENIX – A Phoenix organization is hoping to find homes for dozens of guinea pigs that were surrendered by an animal hoarder in California.

About 175 guinea pigs were surrendered at a Los Angeles-area animal shelter, which is a high-kill county facility, and likely would have been euthanized if rescue groups hadn't stepped in, according to Amanda Peterson with Arizona's Piggie Poo Rescue, Inc.

Piggie Poo is fostering 89 of the animals in Phoenix. Some of them are nursing mothers and very young babies.

The pets will be placed for adoption as soon as they are ready. Peterson said many of them will be available in the next week.

Piggie Poo needs urgent help with donations as well as potential foster and adopting families for the guinea pigs.

Anyone interested in adopting a furry friend can go to Piggiepoo.org and view the available guinea pigs then print an application. The rescue group will arrange a play date with the guinea pig and potential adoptive family.

"We want to spend some time getting to know the family, doing some education and making sure that it's a good match," Peterson said.

Guinea pigs live up to eight years and Peterson said they require as much care and maintenance as a dog or cat.